This article is on the Nepali town. For the district in Uttar Pradesh, see Siddharthnagar District.
| Siddhārthanagar (Bhairahawā) सिद्धार्थनगर (भैरहवा) |
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| — Municipality and District Administrative Center — | |
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Siddhārthanagar (Bhairahawā)
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Nepal |
| Development Region | Western |
| Zone | Lumbini Zone |
| District | Rupandehi District |
| Municipality | Siddharthanagar |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 52,569 |
| Time zone | Nepal Time (UTC+5:45) |
| Website | www.siddharthanagar.org.np |
Siddharthanagar (formerly called Bhairahawa)is a municipality near the Indian border on the Outer Terai plains of Nepal, 265 km (165 mi) west of Kathmandu Nepal's capital. Siddharthanagar is the administrative seat of Rupandehi District although Butwal to the north is the district's largest city.
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Bhairahawa was derived from the deity Bhairava a manifestation of Shiva. Siddharthanagar is from The Buddha's given name Siddhartha. The name Siddhartanagar was given by Komal Dutta Tiwari.
The population of Siddarthanagar in 2001 was 52,569.[1] There is a large population speaking Awadhi and Bhojpuri variants. Nepali is the national language, natively spoken by substantial numbers of who have moved down from the hill districts.The population of Siddharthanagar in 2009 was 95,000.
Hindus are in the majority, with a significant minority of Muslims and Buddhists associated with sites commemorating Gautama Buddha's life and relics.
Siddharthnagar has stores stocked with consumer goods that may be unavailable or more expensive in India, such as goods made in China.
Gautam Buddha Airport -- 3 kilometers from the center—has daily flights to Kathmandu.
A narrow gauge branch of Indian Railways from Gorakhpur approaches the international border at Nautanwa, but passenger trains are infrequent on this line. The alternative of taxi travel from the border crossing at Sunauli to Gorakhpur takes about two hours. From Sunauli, Siddharthanagar is only 3.5 kilometers. Total travel time is 12 – 18 hours from Dehli and 10 – 12 hours from Kolkata (Calcutta).
Siddhartha Rajmarg extends south to the Indian border at Sunauli and north through Butwal then into the hills through Tansen to Pokhara. In Butwal this highway connects with the east-west Mahendra Rajmarg across the full expanse of the Nepalese Terai. There is regular long-distance bus and truck service to Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birganj, Nepalganj, Pokhara and other cities in Nepal; also to Dehli, India via Gorakhpur and Sunauli taking 24–30 hours.
Transit options around the city and into surrounding areas include bus, minibus, unmetered taxicab and cycle rickshaw.
Winter temperatures in range 9-23 celsius (48-73 fahrenheit). Up to 40 celsius (104 fahrenheit) in summer. Monsoon rains usually begin in June and end in September.